Supporting device for two-wheeled vehicles.



0. W. SMITH. SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR TWO WHEBLED VEHIGLES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4, 1909.

3 SHEET8BEEET 1.

Patented Feb. 25, 1913.

Inveniur I 01? w. dwM E7 75 -F32 4- M,

Au s.

\zx/iinasse sz G. W. SMITH. SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR TWO WHEELED VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4, 1909.

Patented Feb, 25, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

z fi J W t 5 w. M 5 M m 5 m a mum H M g m I E u 6 Xzs/iines 5E5 C. W.SMITH. SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR TWO WHEELED VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4, 1909.

Patented Feb. 25, 1913.

s BHEBTS-BHEET 3.

Invenfur By 75M.-.%- Wag Airh for Two-VVheeled Vehicles, of which thefollibrium.

upon which they bear with a yielding. pres- CHARLES W. SMITH,

0F BEDFOBD, OHIO.

SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR TWO-WHEELED VEHICLES.

To all "whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES W. SMITH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bedford', in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Supporting Deviceslowing is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to motor cycles, and it-has for its object theproduction of a device of that character which is adapted for commercialdelivery and for maintaining its upright position when stationary orwhen running at a speed such as would ordinarily not permit the vehicleto maintain its equi- More specifically stated, t-he object of theinvention is to provide a motor cycle with a package carrier of largecaacity, the cycle being provided with side w eels, which are preferablyconnected to the package carrier, and with means for lifting said wheelsout of contact with the ground or for forcing the wheels into contactwith the ground,

sure.

- Other objects of the invention will be set forth in the followingspecification, which is descriptive of the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1 is a side elevation of a motor cycle that is providedwith my invention; Fig.2 is a transverse sectional View taken on theline 2-2 of Fig. 1 and looking in a direction of the arrows thereon;Fig. 3 is a detailed view in section of a portion of the packagecarrierfFig. 4 is a section taken through the mechanism for controllingthe side wheels of the motor cycle, the section being taken on the line4-4 of Fig. 5; Fig.- 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4 andshowing other features of construction; Fig. 6 is a section taken on theline 6-6 of Fig. 4; and Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are detail views showing asomewhat modified construction.

Taking up a fuller description of the id vention by the use of referencecharacters, 1 represents the package carrier which is mounted upon theframe of the cycle between the iuain wheels 2 and 3. The frame of thecycle consists of a horizontal tube or Specification of Letters Patent.Application f led September 4, 1909. Serial No.

rear end to the tube 8 tubes shown in dotted bar 4 which connects thetube 5 for the.

Patented Feb. 25,1913. 516,286.

steering rod carrying the forks for the front wheel 2', with the tube 6for the saddle post; of the tube 7 extending substantially parallel withand above the tube 4, said tube 7 being also secured to the tube 5 andto a vertical tube 8 in which the steering shaft!) is j ournaled; of atube 10 which extends substantially parallel with and below the tube 4,said, tube 10 bein below the axles of the wheels 2 and 3 anbeingconnected at'its and at its front end to a vertical tube 11 whichissecured at its upper end to the tube 7; of a diagonal tube 12 whichconnects the tube 11 with the tube 5 at the lower end of the latter; ofa diagonal tube 12 which connects with the tube 11 at substantially thesame point as the tube 12,

and which is connected with the tube 4 near the center of the packagecarrier; of a tube 12 which is connected with the tube 4 at the point ofattachment of the tube 12 therewith, and extends downwardly andrearwardly, being connected with the diamond frame at the rear endof thetube 10, the point of attachment of the tube .10 andiQ not being shownin the drawing; of diagonal tubes 13 and 13 which are connected to thetube 4 near the center of the packa e carrier and which extendfo'rwardlyan rearwardly, respectively, and are attached to the tube 7.At the up or and lower extended end of the tube 6 or the saddle post,the ordinary frame rods 14 and 15 extend rearwardly, forming forks onopposlte sides of the rear wheel 3 in which the rear axle 16 is mounted.The various tubes may be secured together in any suitable manner, as bybrazing, or the diagonal tubes 12*, 12 3.18 and 13 may be secured to thetube 4 by means of a suitable clamp or collar 17, as indicated in Fig.1.

The package carrier is supported upon the frame ust at the rear of thefront wheel, the carrier extending on each side of the various tubeslying substantially in a vertical plane which bisects the packagecarrier, as shown in Fig. i2. The rods, 7, 8, 10 and 11, form asubstantially rectangular frame which is snugly inclosed by the packagecarrier, said carrier being secured to the tubes in any suitable way soas to prevent rattlin and vibration. Preferably the bottom of t 1epackage carrier is concaved on its inner side, as shown. so as to causethe packages therein to lines in Fig. 1, said 7 gravitate toward thecenter of the carrier and thus assist in preserving the equilibrium ofthe cycle. .\s the bottom of the carrier is below the axles of thewheels 2 and 3, the center of gravity of the load is low, and stabilityis thus secured. The carrier is also provided with side doors. one ofsaid doors being shown in Figs. 1 and 3 at 18, the same being hinged atif) to the main body of the carrier so as to swing outwardly. I preferalso to provide the top of the carrier with an upwardly swinging door20, the same being hinged at 21 to the main body of the carrier. Whenboth the doors 18 and 20 are opened, a large opening is provided forintroducing the packages into the carrier. The upper'door 20 is alsoprovided with a head or molding 22 near its outer edges, behind whichbead the upper edge of the side door 18 rests when the doors are closed,this bead holding the side door 18 in its closed position. As thesemotor cycles are intended for out-of-door use, rain is liable to enterthe joints at the pivoted edges of the doors; and, to prevent the rainfrom getting into the interior of the carrier and wetting the packag stherein. 1 place on the lower side of the top receptacle below the jointfor the door 20, a channeled plate which is suitably attached to thestationary parts of the receptacle. This channeled plate extends foreand aft through the carrier 1 beneath the said joint, and any water thatmay pass through the joint is received by this plate and conveyedoutwardly through the front and rear ends of the package carrier. Thejointfor the door 18 is similarly closed by a Hat plate 24: which isattached to the side wall below the door and projects upwardly inside ofthe latter.

The cycle is steered by the ordinary handle bar 25 which is attached tothe vertical steering shaft 9, the handle bar being connected at eachside of the shaft 9 through links 26 with the opposite ends of a T-shaped head 27 that is connected with the front forks of the cycle. Bythis construction, any rotative movement given the handTe bar istransmitted directly to the front wheel 2.

The motor cycle is driven by a mot-or of any suitable construction, thedrawing showing a twocylinder engine 28 which is mounted in the frame ofthe cycle, said enine driving the power shaft 29. This shaft isconnected through the gears 30 and 31 with the crank shaft said shaftbeing provided with the pedals 33. The crank shaft 32 carries anordinary sprocket wheel, notshown, which drives the rear wheel 3 throughthe chain 34: and the rear sprocket wheel Of course, a chainless drivemay be employed if desired.

speed. I employ side wheels 36, which are adaptcthto rest upon theground, and which LU". also adapted to be lifted from the ground aftersuch speed has been attained as will permit the vehicle to keep itsequilibrium. These side wheels are journaled upon the steering knuckles37, said knuckles being pivoted in the outer ends of crank arms 38, saidarms being secured to the ends of a transverse rock-shaft 39, saidrock-shaft being journaled in suitable bearings 1L0 ,on the rear end ofthe package carrier. \Vhen the shaft is turned in one direction, thewheels 36 are moved downwardly into contact with the ground, and whenthe shaft is moved in an opposite direction said wheels are lifted fromthe ground. The rod is rotated by means of a sprocket chain 41, seeFigs. 1 and 5, which passes over a sprocket wheel 42 on said\rod. andover a large sprocket wheel l3 which is loosely mounted on a journal pinit of a stationary frame 4:5. This frame is secured to the tube -it atthe rear of the package carrier and in front of the saddle 46. In orderto secure the frame rigidly to the tube 4, I preferably provide theframe with an opening in its side, as shown in Fig. l, into which a lug47 on the tube projects. The frame is further held to the tube by meansof a cap plate 48 which is secured to the frame. the. tube beingembraced between the frame and the cap plate.

In order to lift the wheels 36 from the ground, the shaft 39 has securedthereto a member 45) having an outwardly extending lug 50 with which alug 51 on the sprocket wheel 42 is adapted to engage. \Vhen the sprocketwheel 43 is rotated in a direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 5 the lugs50 and 51 are engaged, and the side wheels 36 are lifted; and, when thesprocket- Wheel 43 P is turned in the reverse direction, these lugs tendto separate so as to lower the wheels to the, ground. After the wheelsreach the ground, any further sprocket wheel t3 results in theseparation of the lugs 50 and 51, which further movement 1 utilize forplacing spring tension upon the. rod 39, whereby the wheels 36 arecaused to bear upon the ground with a yielding pressure. This result Isecure by attaching one end of a coil spring 52 to the sprocket wheell2, and the opposite end of the spring to a stationary collar 53 on therod 3%). Any separation of the lugs 50 and 51 results in winding up thespring 52 and in forcing the. side wheels 36 more firmly against theground. The pressure of said wheels upon the ground is therefore controlled by the tension of the spring 52,whi.ch spring always yields whena side wheel is run over any obstruction, this construction I permittingthe vehicle to maintain its up- In order to preserve the equilibrium ofthe cycle when it is, at rest or running at a slow I right position. aswould not be the case if the side wheels were rigidly held.

The sprocket wheel 43 is turned by a hand lever 53 which is secured, bymeans of a pin,

or otherwise, to the journal pin 44. This sprocket wheel is providedabout a portion of its rim with an outwardly projecting flange 54, see.l igs. t and 6, said flange being provided with a plurality of notcheswhich are adapted to receive a pawl plate 56 that is slidably mounted inthe hand lever The pawl plate is normally held in en gagenient with theend notch 55 of the flange 54. the said plate being held in thisposition by means of a spring 57 in a socket in the hand lever, saidspring surrounding a plunger pin 58 that connects at its lower end withthe pawl plate and projects outwardly through the end of the handle ofthe lever 53, where it is provided with a knob or button 55). \Vhen thepawl plate 56 is engaged in the notch 55, and the hand lever 53 ispushed away from the saddle 46, the side wheels 36 are lifted from theground, and are held in this position by a side grip 60 on the handlever, said grip being pivoted at 61, and having a projecting lug 62that is adapted to engage with a notch 63 in the edge of a stationaryflange 6-t that projects from the frame t5, the said grip being pressedtoward the flange 64 by a spring 65, as shown in Fig. 4:. The hand leveris normally held in its forward position with the side wheels 36 liftedby the grip 60 engaging with the said notch 63, and the pawl plate 56 isthen in the notch 55. When it is desired to lower the side wheels 36,the grip 60 is moved to unlatch the same from the flange 64, whereuponthe weight of the wheels 36 tends to rotate the sprocket wheel 43 andthe hand lever-'53 backwardly or toward the saddle, such movementcontinuing until the wheels rest upon the ground. This brings the handlever so far to the rear that any further downward movement of thewheels I36 ean best be secured by forcing the lever 53 forwardly again,suitable mechanism being interposed between the hand lever and thesprocket wheel -13 for causing the latter to continue to move in thesame direction as when the hand lever was moved rearwardly. Foraccomplishing this result, I form on the frame 45 an in\\-ardly-e.:tending hub for the journal pin 44, said hub having a flanged extension66, (see Fig. 5), with a notch therein into which a pawl '67 is adaptedto move under the tension of a spring 68. the pawl and the spring beingcarried by a disk 63) that is loosely journaled on the journal pin 44.the pawl 67 moving radially in a slot 70 in the disk. Also movingradially in a slot in the sprocket wheel a3 is a member '71. said memberbeing provided at each of its ends on opposite sides of the sprocketwheel with fingers, the finger 72 being adapted to extend beneath acorresponding finger on the pawl 67, and the finger '73 being adapted toengage with a projection 74 on the pawl plate 56.

lVhen the knob or button 59 on the plunger rod 58 is relieved frompressure and the pawl plate 56 is opposite a'notch 55 or 55 in theflange 54, the spring 57 forces outwardly the pawl plate 56. Thismovement of the pawl plate results in lifting the member 71 and the pawl67 against the tension of the spring until the latter pawl is disengagedfrom the notch in the flange 66. When, however, the said knob or buttonis depressed, the pawl plate 56 is disengaged from the flange 54: of thegear wheel, and, simul taneously, the pawl 67 is permitted to drop int-othe notch of the flange segment 66, thus locking the disk 69 againstrotation. On a pin 75 that is carried by said disk I loosely journal asmall spur gear '76, said gear meshing with an internal annular gear orsegment 78 on the sprocket wheel 43 and with a spur pinion '79 that iskeyed or otherwise secured to the journal pin 44. lVith the disk 69locked from rotation, and the hand lever 53 disengaged from thesprocket. wheel 43, a movementof the hand lever 53 forwardly or awayfrom the saddle, results in turning the pinion 79 and in transmittingits rotative movement through the small gear wheel 76 to the annulargear segment 78, which segment, being secured to the sprocket wheel,also turns this sprocket wheel in the same direction as that in which itformerly moved. Inasmuch as the force applied to the hand lever isexerted through the short leverage of the pinion 79 to the larger gearsegment 78 of the sprocket wheel, the power is multiplied, and thesprocket wheel is caused to rotate and thus increase the tension of thespring whereby the side wheels are held downwardly against the ground.

It is desirable and is a practical necessity when the side wheels areleft in contact with the ground, to steer said wheels simultaneouslywith the front wheel For this reason. I have secured to each of theknuckles 37 a crank arm 80. each of said arms being connected with acrank 81 on the lower end of the steering shaft 3). the crank arms andSt being connected by links 82, as shown in Figs. 1. and 2. Inasmuch asthe crank arms 86 turn when the wheels are lifted. the links 82 arecarried upwardly and are con nected with the crank arms 80 at pointscoaxial with the rock shaft. 39. It willbe understood that in turningthe vehicle, the front wheel 2 must be turned at a greater angle thanthe side wheels. This diversity of angle is secured by making the crankarms 60 of greater length than the crank 81, the proportionate length ofthese arms depending upon the location of the side wheels with respectto the front wheel.

The operation of the mechanism for lifting the side wheels is asfollows: Normally the hand grip, 60 is in engagement with the notch 63in the flange 64 of the stationary frame member 45, and the side wheelsare in their elevated positionsr If it be desired to lower thesidewheels, the hand grip 60 is operated to release the hand lever fromthe said flange, and the lever 53 is then drawn rearwardly or toward theoperator, this motion continuing until the side wheels are on theground. In the meanwhile, the pawl plate 56 is in engagement with thesprocket wheel 43, the said plate projecting into the notch 55 of theflange 54, so that said sprocket wheel moves backwardly with the handlever. Were this pawl retained in this position and the hand leverforced forwardly again, the wheels would simply be lifted from theground. When it is desired to press the wheels against the ground, theknob or button 59 is depressed and the pawl plate 56 disengaged from thesprocket wheel. This operation simultaneously drops the pawl 67 into thenotch of the flange segment 66, so that the disk 69 becomes locked tothe stationary frame 45. If the hand lever be now pushed forwardly, thesprocket wheel 43 continues the movement in the same direction asformerly, the pawl plate 56 passing away from the notch 55* and out ofengagement with the finger 73011 the member 71, thereby leaving the pawl67 in engage- I ment with the flange segment 66. The hand lever may bepushed forwardly until the desired tension is placed upon the spring 52,when the knob or button 59 may be released to permit the pawl plate 56to engage with one of the notches in the flange .54. When thus engaged,the hand lever is locked, and the side wheels'continue in contact withthe ground, the pressure of the wheels upon the ground depending uponthe position to which the hand lever has been moved forwardly. Duringall of this time, the hand grip remains out of engagementwith its notch63. When it is desired to lift the wheels again, the knob or button 59is depressed, the hand lever 53 is swung rearwardly until the pawl 56enters the notch 55, at which time the fingers 73 and 74 are in positionfor engagement, and the pawl 67 is disengaged from the notched segment66. The hand lever maythen be pushed for wardly to its normal positionwhen it becomes held by the engagement of the grip in the notch 63.

In order to prevent the shaft 39 and the arms 38 from rattling when theside wheels are lifted from the ground, I prefer to cause the said armsto press against elastic buffers 83 which are secured to the rear end ofthe package carrier 1. When the side wheels are lifted, the arms 38 maybe pressed against the elastically-tipped ends of these buffers and theparts thus prevented from rattling.

A the sprocket wheel.

roeaoaa In Figs. 7, 8 and 9 I have shown a somewhat modifledconstruction in which the flange 64 of the frame member 45 is dis-'pensed with and the flange 54 of the sprocket wheel 43 is somewhatextended, in order that the arms 38 .may be pressed against the buffers83 more firmly by a reverse movement of the hand lever 53 in thesamemanner as has been previously described with respect to the mannerof pressing the side wheels against the ground. In said figures, thereference numerals 4, 44, 45, 47, 48, 53, 56, 57, 58, 59, 67, 68, 69,71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 78 and 79 designate the same identical parts asin the other figures and need not be further referred to.

The larger sprocket wheel 43 is provided with an extended flange 54 seeFig. 8, the shoulder or lug adjacent thenotch or opening 55 of Fig. 6being omitted. The flange 54 isprovided with a notch 55 into which thepawl plate 56 projects when the wheels merely rest upon the ground, saidnotch 55 having the same function as the notch 55 in the form previouslydescribed. The operation of pressing the side wheels upon the ground isprecisely the same as that of the other form, the pawl 67 taking into anotch in the flanged segment 66. Instead, however, of the hand lever53being provided with a side grip for engaging in the stationary memberfor holding the side wheels elevated, the flanged segment 66 is providedwith an additional notch 84, into which the said pawl 67 may be causedto engage when the side wheels are lifted until the arms 38 first engagewith the'bufiers 83. It will be understood, of course, that this pawl 67will beheld out of such engagement until the knob 01' button 59isdepressed. Upon swinging the hand lever 53 forwardly until the pawl 67is opposite the notch 84, the depression of the knob or button 59results in causing the pawl 67 to engage in said notch 84, whereupon abackward movement of the hand lever results in continuing the movementof the sprocket 'wheel 43 in the same direction as that in which it hadpreviously moved, whereby the arms 38 are pressed tightly against thesaid buffers. The backwardly swinging movement of the hand lever carriesthe member 72 away from the pawl 67 so that the knob or button 59 may bereleased without disengaging the pawl from its notch 84.

When the desired pressureagainst the buffers is secured, the knob 59 maybe released to permit the pawl plate 56 to enter a notch 55 in theflange 54 of the sprocket wheel. In this construction I have eliminatedthe flange 64 of the stationary frame member, and the side grip on thehand lever, and have merely added in their stead a somewhat longerextension on the flange" of The mechanism has thus been simplified andcheapened; and, by reversing the movement of the hand lever, I amenabled to .press the arms 38 against the buffers more tightly than inthe first form described.

While the drawings do not show the same, I contemplate connecting thedriving engine or motor with the crank shaft through means of a clutch,so that the engine may be started before the load of the vehicle isthrown upon it. This, however, I find to be old in the art, and I makeno claim for the same.

While I have shown and described what is at present my preferredembodiment of my invention, I realize that the details of the mechanismshown and described may be varied without departing from the principleof my invention, and I desire it to be understood that the followingclaims are not intended to be limited to such details any further thanis rendered necessary by the specific terms therein employed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a vehicle, the combination with a pair of ground wheels which arearranged one behind the other and adapted to travel in the same track,of a pair of side wheels arranged to rest upon the ground at oppositesides of said track, a rock shaft, arms secured to said shaft andcarryin the side wheels, a member secured to sai shaft, a member looselyjournaled upon the shaft, a spring connecting said members and means forrotating the latter member whereby the side wheels may be lifted fromthe ground when the said latter member is turned in one direction or maybe pressed against the ,ground when the latter member is turned in theopposite direction, the spring holding the side wheels against theground with a *(vieldin g pressure.

2. In a vehicle, the combination with a pair of ground wheels which arearranged one behindthe other and adapted to travel in the same track, ofa pair of side wheels arranged to rest upon the ground at opposite sidesof said track, a rock shaft, arms secured to said shaft and carrying theside wheels, a member secured to said shaft. a

' wheel loosely journaled upon the shaft, a

spring connecting said member and said wheel, means for rotating thesaid wheel whereby the side wheels may be lifted from the ground whenthe said loosely journaled wheel is turned in one direction or may bepressed against the ground when'the latter wheel is turned in theopposite direction,-

and means for holding the latter wheel in different positions, wherebythe side wheels may be caused to bear against the ground with variablepressures.

3. In a vehicle, the combination with a pair of ground wheels which arearranged "one behind the other and adapted to travel in the same track,of a pair of side wheels arranged to bear upon the ground on oppusitesides of said track, means for forcing the said side wheels into contactwith the ground so as to support said vehicle in upright position and todraw up said wheels out of contact with the ground and a springinterposed in said-means for causing the side wheels to bear upon theground with a yielding pressure.

4. In a vehicle, the combination with a pair of ground wheels which arearranged one behind the other and adapted to travel in the same track,of a pair of side wheels arranged to bear upon the ground on oppositesides of said track, means for forcing the said side wheels into contactwith the ground, a spring interposed in said means for causing the sidewheels to bear upon the ground with a yielding pressure, and mechanismcooperating with said means for holding the latter in differentpositions,

whereby the tension of the spring may be varied. 5. In a vehicle, thecombination with a pair of ground wheels which are arranged one behindthe other and adapted to travel in the same track. of a pair of sidewheels which are adapted to bear upon the ground at opposite sides ofsaid track, a hand lever, and connections between the hand lever and theground wheels whereby a movement of the hand lever in one directionmoves the side wheels into contact with the ground, said connectionsincluding mechanism for increasing the pressure of the side wheels uponthe ground-when the hand lever is moved in the opposite direction.

6. In a vehicle, the combination with a pair of ground wheels which arearranged one behind the other and adapted to travel in the same track,of a pair of side wheels arranged to bear upon the ground on oppositesides of the track, a rock shaft, a pair of arms projecting from saidshaft, each arm carrying a side wheel, a sprocket wheel looselyjournaled on said shaft, a spring surrounding the shaft and having itsopposite ends connected respectively with the sprocket wheel and theshaft, a hand lever.

and gearing connecting the hand lever with the sprocket whcel forturning the latter on the shaft, whereby the shaft may be turned and thespring placed under tension for holding the side wheels against theground with a yielding pressure.

7. In a vehicle, the combination with a pair of ground wheels which arearranged one behind the other and adapted to travel in the same track,of a pair of side wheels arranged to bear upon the ground on oppositesides of the track, a rock shaft, an arm at each end of the shaft, eacharm carrying a side wheel, a sprocket wheel loosely jour- I to theshaft, a spring surroun ingthe shaft and having its opposite endsconnected re spectively with the sprocket wheel and the collar, a handlever, gearing connecting the hand lever with the sprocket wheel forturning the latter on the shaft whereby the shaft may be turned and thespring placed under tension for holding the side wheels against theground with a yielding pressure. and means for holding the hand lever indifien ent positions for varying the tension of the spring.

8. In a vehicle, the combination with a pair of ground wheels that arearranged one behind the other and adapted to travel in the same track,of.a rock shaft, a pair of arms projecting from said shaft. each ofsaidarms carrying a side wheel that is located at one side of the trackof the ground wheels, a driven wheel carried by the shaft for turningthe latter, a stationary frame member, a driving wheel journaled on saidframe member, mechanism connecting the driving and the driven wheelstogether, a hand lever, a pawl carried by said lever and adapted toengage directly with the driving wheel to turn the latter when the handlever is moved in one direction, means for disconnecting said pawl fromthe driving wheel and mechanism controlled by said pawl for establlshingan indirect connection between the hand lever and the said driving wheelfor contmuing the rotation of the latter in the same direction when themovement of the handlever is reversed, whereby the side wheels may heforced against the ground by a hack and forth movement of the handlever.

Q. In a vehicle, the combination with a pair of ground wheels that arearranged one behind the other and adapted to travel in the same track,of a rock shaft, an arm secured to each end of the shaft, each of saidarms carrying a side wheel, a sprocket wheel journaled on the shaft forturning the latter, a spring connecting the sprocket wheel with the rockshaft, a stationary frame member, a second sprocket wheel joarnaled onsaid frame member, a sprocket chain gearing the sprocket wheelstogether, a hand lever for engaging directly with the second sprocketwheel toturn the latterwhen the hand lever is moved in one direction,means for disconnecting said pawl from the sprocket wheel and mechanisin controlled by said pawl for estabhshlng an indirect connection betweenthe hand lever and the said second sprocket wheel for continuing therotation of the latter in the same direction when the move ment of thehand lever is reversed, where by the shaft may be rocked to tighten thespring and to force the sidewheels against the ground with a yieldingpressure.

noses 10. In a vehicle, the combination with a pair of ground wheelswhich are adapted to travel one behind the other, a side wheel arrangedat each side of the vehicle, a rock shaft, a pair of arms connected tosaid shaft, each arm carrying one of said side wheels, a sprocket wheelcarried by said shaft for turning the latter and for lifting ordepressing the side wheels, a stationary frame member having a notchtherein, a journal pin mounted in said frame member, a disk and a secondsprocket wheel loosely journaled on the said pin, a sprocket chainconnecting said sprooket wheels, a pinion secured to the journal pin, agear wheel carried bV the said disk and meshing with the said pinion, aninternal gear secured to the second sprocket wheel and also meshing withthe said gear wheel, a hand lever secured-to the journal pin, a pawlcarried by the-hand lever and adapted to engage di rectly with thesecond sprocket wheel for turning the latter, a pawl carried by the diskand adapted to engage with the notch in the frame member for locking thedisk against rotation and means for disconnecting the pawl on the handlever from the sprocket wheel and for simultaneously connecting the pawlon the disk with the frame member whereby the movement of the hand leverand of the pinion on the pivot in one direction results in moving thesecond sprocket wheel in the opposite direction.

11. In a vehicle, the combination with a pair of ground wheels which areadapted to travel one behind the other, a side wheel arranged at eachside of the vehicle, a rock shaft, a pair of arms connected to saidshaft, each arm carrying one of said side wheels, a sprocket wheelcarried by said shaft for turning the latter and for lifting ordepressing the side wheels, a spring connecting the sprocket wheel withthe shaft, a stationary frame member having a notch therein, a journalpin mounted in said frame member, a disk and a'second sprocket wheelloosely journaled on the said pin, a sprocket chain connecting saidsprocket Wheels, a pinion secured tothe journal pin disk, a gear'wheelcarried by the said disk and meshing with the said pinion, an internalgear secured to the second sprocket wheel and also meshing with the saidgear wheel, a hand lever secured to the journal pin, a pawl carried bythe hand lever and sprocket wheel for turningthe latter, a pawl carriedby the disk and adapted to engage with the notch in the frame member forlocking the disk against rotation and means for disconnecting the pawlon the hand multaneously connecting the pawl on the disk with the framemember Whereby the between the second sprocket wheel and the adapted toengage directly with the second lever from the sprocket wheel and forsi-' movement of the hand lever and of the pinion on the pivot pin inone direction results in moving the second wheel in the oppositedirection, and in thus placing tension on said spring for pressing theside wheels against the ground.

12. In a vehicle, the combination with a pair of ground wheels arrangedone behind the other so that theymay travel in the same track, of a pairof side wheels. said wheels being arranged on opposite sides of saidtrack, a rock shaft, a pair of arms projecting from said shaft, each ofsaid arms carrying one of the side wheels, a sprocket wheel looselyjournaled on the said shaft, a

; lug projecting from the said shaft, :1 lug projecting from the saidsprocket wheel and adapted to engage the lug on the shaft to I turn thelatter and lift the side wheels when the sprocket wheel is turned in onedirection, a spring connecting the said sprocket wheel with the shaftwhereby the side wheels are held against the ground with a yieldingpressure whenthe sprocket wheel is turned in the opposite direction andmeans for rotating said sprocket wheel in either direction desired.

' 13. In a vehicle, the combination with a pair of ground wheelsarranged one behind the other so that they may travel in the same track,of a pair of side wheels, said wheels being arranged on opposite sidesof said track, a rock shaft, a pair of arms projecting from said shaft,each of said arms carrying one of the side wheels, a sprocket wheelloosely journalcd on the said shaft, a lug projecting from the saidshaft, alug projecting from the sprocket wheel and adapted to engage thelug on the shaft to turn the latter and lift the side wheels when saidsprocket wheel is turned in one direction, a

- spring connecting the sprocket wheel with 1 the shaft whereby the sidewheels are held against the ground with a yielding pressure when thesprocket wheel is turned in the opposite direction, means for rotatingsaid sprocket wheel in either direction desired, and means for holdingthe sprocket wheel in different positions so that the side wheels may beheld in elevated position or may be pressed against the ground withdifferent degrees of pressure.

14. In a vehicle, the combination with a pair of ground wheels that arearranged one behind the other and adapted to travel in the same track,of a pair of side wheels arranged to bear upon the ground on oppositesides of said trunk, means for turning the front ground wheel forsteering the vehicle and connections between said means and the sidewheels, whereby the front wheel and the twoside wheels aresimultaneously turned.

15. In a vehicle, the combination with a pair of ground wheels that arearranged one behind the other and adapted to'travel in the same track,of a pair of side wheels arranged to bear upon the ground on oppositesides of said track, means for turning the front ground wheel forsteering the vehicle, connections between said means and the sidewheels, whereby the front wheel and the two side wheels aresimultaneously turned, and means for causing the side wheels to bearupon the ground with a yielding pressure.

16. In a. vehicle, the combination with a pair of ground wheels that arearranged one behind the other and adapted to travel in the same track,of a pair of side wheels, the side wheels being arranged on oppositesides of the said track, a rock shaft, a pair of arms secured to therock shaft, a steeringknuckle on each of said arms, each of saidknuckles having one of the side wheels jour naled thereon, a handle bar,a rod to which said bar is attached, a crank on said rod. meansconnecting said crank with each of the said steering-knuckles and meansconnecting the handle bar with the front wheel on the.vehicle whereby,when the handle bar is turned, the said front wheel and each of the sidewheels are turned fol 'rteering the vehicle.

17. In a vehicle, the combination with a pair of ground wheels that arearranged one behind the other and adapted to travel in the same track,of a pair of side wheels, the side wheels being of the said track, arock shaft, a pair of arms secured to the rock shaft, a steeringknuckleon each of said arms, each of said knuckles having one of the sidewheels journaled thereon, a handle bar, a rod to which said bar isattached, a crank on'said rod, means connecting said crank with each ofthe said steering knuckles, means connecting the handle bar with thefront wheel on the vehicle whereby, when the handle bar is turned, thesaid front wheel and each of the side wheels are turned for steering thevehicle, and means for causing the side wheels to bear upon the groundwith a yielding pressure. 7

18. In a vehicle, a pair of ground wheels arranged one behind the otherand adapted to travel in the same track, of a pair of side wheels, saidside wheels beingarranged upon opposite sides of the vehicle, a rockshaft, a pair of arms extending from said rock shaft, each of said armscarrying one of the side wheels, means for rocking said shaft in eitherdirection and a spring interposed between said means and the shaft,whereby the side wheels may be'caused to bear upon the ground with ayielding pressure.

19. In a vehicle, the combination with a pair of ground wheels that arearranged: one behind the other and adapted to travel in the same track,of a pair of side wheels. there being one side wheel at each side of thevehicle and means r simultaneous arranged on opposite sides turnin thefront ground wheel and each of the si e wheels whereby the vehicle maybe properly steered.

20. In a vehicle, the combination with a pair of ground wheels that arearranged one behind the other and adapted to travel in the same track,of a pair of side wheels, there being one side wheel at each side of thevehicle, means for turning the front ground wheel, and connectionsbetween said means and the side wheels for turning the lattersimultaneously with the front wheel but at a smaller angle, whereby thevehicle is properly steered.

21. In a vehicle, the combination with a pair of ground wheels arrangedone behind the other and adapted to travel in the same track, and aframe supported thereby, of a pair of side wheels, there being one oftheside wheels at each side of the vehicle, a rock shaft journaled onthe said frame, means connecting said rock shaft with the side wheels, arocking member loose on the shaft, a spring connecting said member withthe shaft, and means for rocking said member in either direction wherebythe side wheels may be lifted from the ground or may be pressed againstthe ground with a yielding pressure.

22. In a vehicle, the combination with a pair of ground wheels that arearranged one behind the other and are adapted to travel in the sametrack, a frame for the vehicle mounted upon said wheels, a rock shaftjournaled upon the said frame, a air of arms projecting from said rocksha t, a side wheel for and carried by each of said arms, means forrocking said rock shaft in either direction whereby the side wheels maybe lifted from the ground or may be pressed against the ground andmechanisms connecting the front wheel with each of the side wheels forsimultaneously turning said wheels in steering the vehicle.

23. In a vehicle, the combination with a pair of ground wheels that arearranged one behind the other and are adapted to travel in the sametrack, a frame for the vehicle mounted upon said wheels, a receptaclefor packages mounted upon and secured to said frame, a rock shaftjournaled upon the said receptacle. a pair of arms projecting from saidrock shaft, a side wheel for and carried by each of said arms, asprocket wheel loosely journaled on said shaft. a spring connecting thesprocket wheel with the shaft, means for turning the sprocket wheel ineither direction, whereby the side wheels may be lifted from the groundor may be pressed against the ground with a yielding pressure, andmechanisms connecting the front wheel with each of the side wheels forsimultaneously turning said wheels in steering the vehicle.

24. In a vehicle. the combination with a Lemma pair of ground wheelsarranged one behind the other and adapted to travel in the same track,of a frame for the vehicle mounted upon the said wheels, a packagecarrier mounted upon and secured to the said frame, a rock shaft, a pairof arms projecting from the rock shaft, a side wheel carried by each ofsaid arms, the side wheels being arranged on opposite sides of thevehicle, a sprocket wheel loosely journaled on the rock shaft,projections on the rock shaft and on the sprocket wheel, saidprojections being adapted to engage each other when the sprocket wheelis turned in one direction for rocking the shaft and lifting the sidewheels off the ground, a spring surrounding the said shaft and connectedat its opposite ends to the shaft and to the sprocket Wheel, astationary member mounted upon the frame, said member having aprojecting flange and a hub, the flange and hub each being provided witha single notch therein, a pivot pin journaled in said member, a secondsprocket wheel loosely journaled on said pin, said second sprocket wheelhaving a projecting flange with a series of notches therein, a sprocketchain connecting the two sprocket wheels 'to gether, a hand leverrigidlysecured to the pivot pin, a spring pressed grip lever pivoted to thehand lever and adapted to engage with the notch in the said flange ofthe member, a pawl plate slidably mounted on the hand lever, said pawlplate being adapted to engage with the notches in the flan e of thesecond sprocket wheel, a disk looseIy journaled on the pivot pin betweenthe second sprocket wheel and said disk, a small gear wheel journaled onthe said disk and meshing with the said pinion, an internal annular gearsecured to the second sprocket wheel and also meshing with the smallgear on the disk, a spring pressed pawlslidably' mounted in the disk andadapted to engage with the notch in the hub of the said member, meanscarried by the second sprocket wheel and adapted to engage both the pawlplate and the pawl on the disk, and a plunger, carried by the hand leverand secured to the pawl plate thereon, the construction being such thatwhen the pawl plate en- 7 gages with the sprocket wheel and the handlever is pushed in one direction until the hand grip engages in theflange of the said member the side wheels are lifted and held from theground, and when the hand lever is moved in the opposite direction withthe pawl plate in engagement with the sprocket. wheel the side wheelsare lowered to the ground, after which a depression of the plungerdisconnects the pawl plate from the sprocket wheel and causes the pawlon the disk to engage with the hub of the member so that a reversemovement of the hand lever results in continuing the movement ofthesecond sprocket wheel in the same direction, winds up the spring on therock shaft and thereby forces the side wheels against the ground with ayielding pressure.

25. In a vehicle, the combination with a pair of ground wheels arrangedone behind the other and adapted to travel in the same track, of a framefor the vehicle mounted upon. the said wheels, a package carrier mountedupon and secured to the said frame, a rock shaft journaled on the rearend of the package carrier, a pair of arms projecting from the rockshaft, a steering knuckle for and pivoted to each of said arms, a sidewheel journaled upon each of said steering knuckles, the side wheelsbeing arranged on opposite sides of the vehicle, a sprocket wheelloosely journaled on the rock shaft, projections on the rock shaft andon the sprocket wheel, said projections being adapted to engage eachother when the sprocket wheel .is turned in one direction for rockingthe shaft and lifting the side wheels off the ground, a springsurrounding the said shaft and connected at its opposite ends to theshaft and to the sprocket wheel, a stationary member mounted upon theframe, said member having a projecting flange and a hub, the flange andhub each being provided with a single notch therein, a pivot pinjournaled in said member, a second sprocket wheel loosely journaled onsaid pin, said second wheel having a projecting flange with a series ofnotches therein, a sprocket chain connecting the two sprocket wheels together, a hand lever rigidly secured to the pivot pin, a spring pressedgrip lever pivoted to the hand lever and adapted to engage with thenotch in the said flange of the member, a pawl plate slidably mounted onthe hand lever, said pawl plate being adapted to engage with the notchesin the flange of the second sprocket wheel, a disk loosely journaled onthe pivot pin, a pinion rigidly secured to the pivot pin between thesecond sprocket wheel and said disk, a small gear wheel journaled on thesaid disk and meshing with the said pinion, an internal annular gearsegment secured to the second sprocket wheel and also meshing with thesmall gear on the disk, spring pressed pawl slidably mounted in the diskand adapted to engage with the notch in the hub of the said member,means carried by the second sprocket wheel and adapted to engage boththe pawl plate and the pawl on the disk, a plunger carried by the handlever and secured to the pawl plate thereon, the construction being suchthat when the pawl plate engages with the sprocket wheel and is pushedin one direction un il the hand grip engages in the flange of the saidmember the side wheels are lifted and held from the ground, and when thehand lever is moved in the opposite direction with the pawl plate inengagement with the sprocket wheel the side wheels are lowered to theground, after which a depression of the plunger disconnects the pawlplate from the sprocket wheel and causes the pawl on the disk to engagewith the hub of the member so that a reverse movement of the hand leverresults in continuing the movement of the second sprocket wheel in thesame direction, winds up the spring on the rock-shaft and thereby forcesthe side wheels against the ground with a yielding pressure, and meansconnecting the front ground wheel and the said steering knuckles forsimultaneously turning the front wheel and the side wheels.

26. In a vehicle, the combination with a pair of ground wheels that arearranged one behind the other and are adapted to travel in the sametrack, a frame for the vehicle mounted upon said wheels, a receptaclefor packages mounted upon and secured to said frame, a rocleshaftjournaled upon the said receptacle, a pair of arms projecting from saidrock-shaft, a side wheel for and carried by each of said arms, means forrocking said shaft for lifting the side wheels from the ground andelastic buffers on the receptacle against which the said pair of armsare adapted to be pressed for preventing the parts from rattling.

27. In a vehicle, the combination with a pair of ground wheels that arearranged one behind the other and are adapted to travel in the sametrack, a frame for the vehicle mounted upon said wheels, a recep taclefor packages mounted upon and secured to said frame, a rock-shaftjournaled upon said receptacle, a pair of arms projecting from saidrock-shaft, a side wheel for and carried by each of said arms, means forrocking said shaft for lifting the ground wheels, a pair of elasticbuffers carried by the receptacle against which the said pair of arms onthe rock-shaft may be pressed for preventing the parts from rattling,and mechanism connecting the front wheel with each of the side wheelsfor simultaneously turning said wheels in steering the vehicle.

In testimony whereof, Z hereunto my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

CHARLES W. SItilTFf. Vitnesses:

JAs. l/Vnsr, BRENNAN B. Wasr.

